Al-Ko Mudding Tractor Build

Finally time to rebuild this pig. It's been a long LONG time since I dismantled this thing with the intent on rebuilding it. The old chassis was useless for offroad, no strength what-so-ever. I've got this week off so I decided I'd start on it again, seeing all these new off road tractors on youtube and here have really made me want to get mine back together. In all honest there's not much of the original tractor, just the tranny, rear fenders and dash, and the front axle. The hood is from an MTD (I may change it soon!) so its really a mis match. But it was my first tractor and I dont want to sell it!

I started making the chassis with some reallly heavy angle that I got for free from the sawmill across the road (the owner, my neighbour, lets me keep tractors there too!) a while back. Today I managed to finish it (on the most part)


I then needed to 'borrow' a few parts from the old chassis. Mainly the front axle mounts (the black plate) and the tranny mounts (saves me building my own, they'll need to be strengthened though).


Im a fan of mocking things up before I build them, saves basic mistakes, so before I started welding the front end on, I thought I'd see how things looked:


This isnt the engine it's getting, but it's identical to what it will have (16hp opposed twin, Briggs ofcourse!) This was just easier to get to for testing.

After taking it apart, I got started on the front end. Basically I cut the front half of the axle supports from the old chassis (its all one stamped piece!) and the black support for the back of the front axle. I decided to flip the two about, so the front was now the back on my new chassis. Confused? Photos are always good.


It needs some support at the bottom, but that will be done tomorrow. Here it is mocked up with the front axle.

You can see it's been lifted by about 1/2 inches and lengthened 5/6 inches. Compare this to an older photo:

Big difference! Need to lengthen that hood though

Cool beans! Definitly a stronger chassis- being a bit longer make make it more stable. Are y gonna run bigger front wheels? Id say just make new bolt holes for the hood n slide it back a bit - y have like 3-5" to mess with. That twin will get y some serious places for sure.

Yeah when i mocked up the wheelhorse mod it looked wicked just sitting there in a pile of parts, imagining it finished made it even more cool.

is that a solid front axle?

Chunk: Yeah itd look cool with some atv/ag tires - i dunno how much y want to get into metal work, but what if you slice the slide of the hood to bend it out ( like on a dynamark) to fit around the motor , then patch the gaps with metal ?

Whats the plan for footrests?

This looks intresting! Building your own frame is a good idea. It gives you lots of options. I'm a big fan of mocking things up over and over again. If you don't, your in for alot of grinder work. I like knowing everything is going to line up before I weld it on or make it permanet. Looks good so far.
What are you cutting the metal with?

Awesome frame, what are your plans for steering?
Are you doing derect steering?
What kinda speed are you guessing for it?

the only suggestion I would have is to build the steering way stronger then you think it needs to be!
Otherwise it looks like you know exacaly what you are doing. I can't wait for more!

How many speed transaxle are you using? I wish I could find cheap international shipping, I would send you some parts that would probably work, or at least parts of them would work. Steering is always a pain. Could you relocate that piece of metal that is hanging down out of the way? Like move it over one way or the other an inch or so?
Direct steer could work if you got the leverage right. My old atv had a nice setup on it. but it's hard on a tractor because that peskey motor is in the way.

I've stopped working on the craftsman for now in favor of getting the murray mudder going again. Also been working on my buddies mtd. Spring is almost here! WHOOP! WHOOP!

It was driveable, but the adjusable tentioner pulley bearing was making some noise and was loose... Same with the clutch pulley. I bought two new ones yesterday. Also just did some little stuff like changed the oil in the tranny and took apart and greased the whole front end.

A 6 speed will be nice! I have a 5 speed, and I can already tell that I like it more then the 4 speed on the crawler, the gearing is further apart. Make sure you seal the tranny really good! Don't need water getting in there. Are you planning on fabracating your own clutch, or are you going to reuse the other one?
I've been toying with the idea of building my own clutch for the murray. It would consist of 2 pullies, one flat faced, and one v belt pulley; and it would piviot in the center, with 2 springs pulling on it in opposite directions at each end. If that made any sence... lol! It would create a tremendous amount of tension on the belt when engaged, probably enough to work underwater! And when you press the clutch, both pullies would spin out of the way and not touch the belt....

I donno, Just an idea...

Glad to see your making progress!

Direct steer shouldnt give you an issue while steering- has no slop and should turn the same at rest and speed actually.

If y have a spare MTD steering setup maybe go with that- it goes up over the chassis, would give more height and nothing to get caught on.

Tractor is looking cool- almost like it was ment to be that way.....

Im going to use that two pulley clutch setup ( that racers use) - seemed like whenever i clutched with the ex murray - belt position never seemed to change anyway- almost thought of using a go kart clutch with the trans.

I love over kill too! This thing look like it's built to last awhile. I like your idea about the mud flaps, it looks like it should work. I may have to do something like that on mine so I don't have to wear water proof pants every time I go wheeling. This is really starting to come together. I really like how overbuilt that frame is.

Its never bothered me to get all muddy- cept when its cold out- one time i was having so much fun , it was getting dark and colder- i had to hose off with the garden hose before folks would let me even in the garage......


I think a lil bit of flex will be allright ..... it looks pretty strong as it is! Should definitly last a while.

Climate sure has changed here this year- since about december its been really cold here in Florida- normally the cold lasts about 2 months then gets hot again- here it is into our 3rd month ...suposed to warm up this week again - hopefully will stay warm this time- LOL! I wouldve gotten out to the shed but i was feeling bleah earlier this week - think its gone now feel tons better.

Back when i lived up home i went out sometimes in the winter- depended if i could get my tractor down in the field with its cruddy stock tires or not- or if it even started.... i shoveled a path around the house to make a track- it iced over and the tractor just spun away......


Heres a pic of the original mud hole in the winter- before i started running thru the swamp across the field:




To the right of the one tree in front- where the tracks stop - ive since cut a way thru to the road - actually that same tree is the one i drove up last year when i was up home- LOL!

Snow in florida? damn... Up here in maine it's like spring has come earily. The last 3 snow storms missed us. Today, it's gonna hit 50 and I'm goin wheelin!

But, of course, I'll get covered! I would go for the flaps, Chunk.... LOL!